Evaluating the Impact of Trans- and Multi-generational Exposure to Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals on Liver Development and Cancer Incidence

https://doi.org/10.65161/rectmdTh8uX4D4rlj

Cases of liver diseases, such as Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), fibrosis and liver cancers have increased by over 50% between the last three to four decades. In the United States, over one hundred million people are diagnosed with some form of liver disease. Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), substances that interfere with the endocrine system, are now ubiquitous in society, with detectable levels found in a wide range of industrial and consumer goods. Recently, there have been increasing amounts of evidence supporting trans and multi-generational effects of EDC exposure on human health, causing directly and indirectly exposed offspring to develop liver malformations, progressive disease and even cancer. This paper aims to summarize the relationship between EDC exposure and the incidence of liver diseases through multiple generations through inherited genetic and epigenetic alterations. Furthermore, possible treatments, methods of mitigation, and potential public policies concerning the use of EDCs in industrial manufacturing and their relation to human health will be discussed.